Back in October, I posted a blog about the “ABC’s” of reality shows and home remodeling. Sadly, a couple from Raleigh, North Carolina did not read the blog! They turned to HGTV network’s “Love It Or List It” last year when they were considering renovating a rental property they had in Raleigh and moving into it with teenage foster children.

“The couple contend that not only were they victims of shoddy work, they also suffered from a breach of contract, unfair trade practices in violation of North Carolina’s general contractor laws and a “bizarre” business model that creates an “inherent conflict of interest” for a production company that makes most of its money on TV advertising, ” according to an article in the Miami Herald.

Furthermore, “The couple allege that ‘Love It Or List It’ did not use a licensed architect to develop renovation plans, that they never were shown houses on the market by any North Carolina licensed real estate agent who had the ability to broker the sale of those homes and were left to put up with ‘disastrous work done by Big Coat and its subcontractors.'”

Reality home remodeling shows should be used for inspiration only.

If you have been inspired by something you have seen on television and want to determine if it can be duplicated in your home, contact Leading Edge Homes, Inc. at 561-795-2551. We will give you a real, guaranteed price.

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A REMODELING CONTRACTOR: MAKING A HOMEOWNER CRY

Nothing is worse than having to tell a homeowner they have been scammed.

MAKING A HOMEOWNER CRY

This has been one of the toughest month’s for me as a home remodeling contractor.

Two of the potential clients that I visited with were brought to tears and another one was strong enough to hold back the tears but realized they threw away money.

WHAT WENT WRONG

The first of my heart breaking experiences happened in Palm Beach Gardens. A woman, had a leak, which unfortunately led to mold.

But… the people she hired to “fix it” removed anything and everything that they could, down to the metal studs that were part of her exterior walls.

There is no easy fix to put her home back together, especially because it is part of a quadruplex. The homeowners association won’t let her rip down what is remaining from the exterior walls and now they are in danger of collapsing, her insurance company is denying the claim, and the “friends” that helped her weren’t licensed.

The only remedy she has is to hire a public adjuster to help her navigate the insurance company process and to hire a construction attorney to help her recoup her costs from the work that was done improperly. Until she gets the homeowners association to grant her permission to fix the exterior walls, she is in limbo.

The next of my heart breaking experiences happened in Wellington where work was done without a permit and the second contractor is no where to be found.

A homeowner needed work done on his home. The “contractor” who only could work weekends was caught doing work on the home without a permit. The Village of Wellington issued a stop work order, fined the homeowner, and had the electric meter pulled from the house as a safety precaution.

The homeowner, after paying fines, hired another contractor. But, this contractor is now missing in action. I advised the homeowner that I could not do any work on the home unless the permit was closed. Like the previous homeowner, this job will remain in limbo until the legal ramifications are solved.

The last my heart breaking experiences this week also happened in Wellington.

A homeowner wanted to remodel their kitchen and have an addition put on their home. They hired a draftsman to draw up the plans. The plans did not reflect what the homeowner wanted! The plans were what the designer wanted to draw.

As a design-build contractor I have seen this time and time again. Some draftsmen or architects don’t understand the big picture and don’t understand how things are tied together. The homeowner, throughout our meeting, kept saying “but that is what I wanted.”

It is very frustrating to me that homeowners waste money on plans that won’t work. It is not that every designer/draftsman does a poor job… but I have seen it way too many times that plans are not usable because they are incomplete, don’t meet the homeowner requirements, or they are drawn incorrectly.

BEFORE YOU CHOOSE TO DO A REMODEL

Think about how your change will effect the look of your home. Realize that the newer things may alter how the rest of your home looks. That doesn’t mean you don’t make changes. But… think about how your changes can affect your vision of your home.

If you are changing the floors, do you want to change the doors, their thresholds, the moldings? If you are adding additional cabinets, how are you going to tie the cabinets together? Will you need to resurface the old cabinets, change out all of the hardware, or replace everything?

Making all the cabinet pulls the same may not be so easy. How the new handles get installed may not cover old holes. The old hardware may not easily be removed.

When you do choose to remodel, look for someone with good listening skills who shares your vision for what your home should look like. Feel free to ask for references. Then, before you sign on the dotted line, check with your state to ensure your architect or custom builder is licensed in his or her field.

HOME REMODELING BUDGETING

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT REMODELING COSTS

Like I have said many times, being an educated consumer is very important before beginning a home remodeling or improvement project. There are many posts on this blog about Hiring a Home Remodeling Professional.

There is more to the cost of hiring a remodeling professional than materials and labor. Determining the cost of your job is much more complex than you think.

Last week I received a call from a potential client about remodeling his bathroom. He thought the job should cost no more than $7,000, when in reality it would cost about $20,000. Were we over-charging or was the potential client living in the 1960s?

THINGS INCLUDED IN THE COST OF YOUR HOME REMODELING PROJECT

LABOR COSTS

Assuming the average worker makes $20 an hour, if you have three employees working 50 hours a week for two weeks on a bathroom—which is typical—you’ll have 240 hours of regular pay (3 employees x 40 hours per week x 2 weeks) for $4,800, plus 60 hours of overtime (3 employees x 10 overtime hours per week x 2 weeks) at 1.5 times the regular wage, which adds an extra $1,800. Add it all up, and the cost of labor alone is $6,600.

But, there is more to the labor charge than just the worker’s hourly wage. There is general liability insurance, workman’s compensation insurance, and the cost of the employee’s health and other benefits.

MATERIAL COSTS

Costs for materials can vary, and in most cases, the home remodeling contractor adds a mark-up to the costs of materials. Why? It covers the time to order the materials, pick up the materials, deliver the materials, and replace materials if there are problems with them.

Now, I know what you are thinking. I can save money if I purchase the materials myself. I strongly recommend that you DO NOT do this.

For example, if the faucet you purchase doesn’t work properly, it is the plumber who is responsible to replace or repair it. If you supply the faucet, you will have to pay for the plumber to disconnect the faucet you supplied and then come back and install the replacement faucet.

MOVING FIXTURES

Home remodeling shows make it look like there is nothing involved to change where the toilet, shower or sink are located in a bathroom. It is not as simple as you think to relocate fixtures.

Floors need to be cut up, walls have to be opened, and in some cases, sewer lines need to be moved. Once the relocation is completed, floors and walls need to be patched. This is very labor intensive and adds significant cost to a bathroom remodel.

MISC. COSTS

Besides materials and labor, the following items may go into the price of a bathroom remodeling job: bringing the rest of the house up to the current National Electric Code for smoke detectors, trash removal/disposal, floor and dust protection, final cleaning, portable toilet rental, fuel surcharge based on distance to a job site, permit fees, builder’s risk insurance, and advertising costs.

OVERHEAD COSTS

Remodeling contractors also have to pay for other things to keep their companies in business such as secretaries, legal services, truck maintenance, office supplies, and similar expenses. Most people don’t think about that when they see the final price of the bathroom remodeling project, but it adds up quickly.

OTHER THOUGHTS

Understanding the true costs of hiring a professional home remodeling contractorto complete your home improvement project will help you weed out low-quality contractors. In the case of the potential client who believed he could remodel his bathroom for $7,000, if he finds a contractor that will do it for that price:

he is in danger of getting an unprofessional job

he probably will end up with added costs later or

a bathroom with which he is not really happy

If you get a “great low price” you should ask questions to determine why the price is so low. Compare quotes… make sure “everything” is included.

Speak to a home remodeling contractor to get an idea of what your project might cost. Ask questions and understand what is included. If you have two quotes, compare them line-by-line to make sure that you are getting the same materials and level of service.

How Much Will it Cost To Remodel My Bathroom

Bathroom remodeling prices are unique to your individual tastes.

Remodeling Pricing is Not Instant

Yesterday I told you about the article on BloombergBusiness that said Facebook Inc. is teaming up with Pro.com, which will help a Facebook Messenger user find a qualified contractor [and get] an instant quote “within minutes on home projects…”

This concept reminds me of the calls I get where people ask me how much will it cost to add a bathroom, remodel a bathroom, paint a room, build an addition, etc.

There is no such thing as an instant price!

Home Remodeling Price Estimates Online

I have often wondered where people determine what a job should cost. So like many people do, I went to some of the sites that give pricing. On one of the “advisor” sites, it gives a range of pricing in a graphic form that says bathroom remodeling ranges from about $3,000 to a high of $20,000. It took me several times of looking at the site until I found where it said it was for installation only… but the heading said “How Much Does it Cost to Remodel A Bathroom.” What about the materials, permit, trash disposal, etc.?

If you are like me, I did not catch that it didn’t include materials, until I looked at it more than several times. Relying on these sites to guestimate what your project might cost is a total waste of time.

My Least Favorite Question

How much do you charge per square foot? The answer is simply, I don’t charge by the square foot because it is totally inaccurate. Obviously a 500 square foot family room with a shingled roof and carpeting will cost far less that a 500 square foot two bedroom, one bath addition with barrel tile roof and marble flooring/shower walls.

RUN, DON’T WALK If a Contractor Gives a Price By Instant Message or Over the Phone Without a Site Visit and Asking Questions About Finish Materials

A bathroom built by Leading Edge Homes.

There are many things that a professional home improvement contractor needs to know before giving you a price. For example, if you are remodeling your bathroom:

Are you installing basic fixtures?

Faucets may cost as little as $40.00 and as high as $600 (or more). That’s without installation!

Are you installing tile or marble?

Tile may be as little as $5 per square foot and marble as much as $20 per square foot installed.

What type of counter top do you want – mica, marble, granite, quartz?

What type of lavatory?

Will it be an under mount bowl?

What type of cabinetry do you want?

Are you getting a prefabricated cabinet with lavatory? (Better make sure it meets the building codes.)

Do you want solid wood cabinets?

What type of knobs / pulls do you want? (They range in price from $1 per knob to $25 per knob – without installation.)

What are the conditions in the bathroom?

Is there drywall damage from moisture or mold? (If there is mold, you will need someone to clean out the mold and get certification that the mold removal was done properly before any work can proceed.)

Do the walls need to be demolished down to the studs?

Is there proper backing for the new cabinets) you want to install?

What are you doing with the existing bath / shower?

Are your replacing the tub?

What type of shower enclosure do you want?

Are you changing the layout of the room?

Are you moving the toilet? (The floors will have to be demolished to get to the plumbing pipes.)

Are you converting from a tub to a shower or vice versa?

Does your shower pan need to be replaced?

Was your house built before 1978 and perhaps need lead paint removal?

Is your electric up-to-code?

Will smoke detectors have to be added to your home to meet the current National Electric Code?

When you remodel the interior of your house, under most circumstances you will need to update your smoke detectors per the latest code.

Other Costs Included When A Professional Remodels Your Bathroom

Permit fees — Yes, a permit must be pulled and inspections performed

Trash removal

Clean-Up

Builder’s Risk Insurance Policy

General Liability / Workman’s Compensation Insurance

Don’t trust advisor sites that sell your project to home improvement contractors that pay for your information. Contact contractors in your area and interview them to get an accurate price.

Your home improvement contractor can guide you, tell you where you can save money, and help you turn your home into an oasis.

You already know a trustworthy contractor – Leading Edge Homes. Whenever a project comes up, please call us at 561-795-2551 and we will be happy to complete it for you.

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

Just keep in mind, that the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s trend report on what’s driving bathroom design in 2015 does not mean you need to update your bathroom to conform to the latest styles and trends.

There are ways to add some of these features … such as installing a tiled back splash, replacing your faucets, adding crown molding, or even changing your paint color to update your bathroom’s look.

If you plan on remodeling your bathroom, functionality, safety, and personal preferences should be your primary focus. Color trends, materials, and other hot designs trends will be outdated in years from now.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more! In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 orvisit their website todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County

Just like the kitchen, contemporary designs are growing in popularity in bathroom remodels. These contemporary touches in the bathroom equate to clean and open designs, with floating vanities and freestanding tubs.

Last week, at Styled Staged & Sold, we highlighted the top 10 trends for the kitchen this year. This week, we focus on the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s latest trend report on what’s driving bathroom design in 2015.

Here are the top 10 overall bathroom design trends NKBA designers expect to be hot this year:

Most popular colors: White and gray are the dominant colors for bathrooms. Half of designers expect to see gray growing in 2015, and several designers also mentioned the growing popularity of purple, lavender, and lilac tones gaining steam in bathroom designs. For fixtures, white continues its dominance.

Out of style: Jetted tubs, whether whirlpool or air, are decreasing in popularity, according to NKBA’s report. “People are moving away from jetted tubs to more classic soaking tubs,” says Bill Donohoe with Donohoe Design Works in the Los Angeles area. Also, beige fixture colors are increasingly dropping in popularity.

HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS:

Don’ts from a Contractor’s Point of View

Don’t delay decisions.

Make your product and color selections well in advance of when they are needed. A late decision on a faucet can mean weeks of delay if it is on back order.

Don’t change your mind (too much).

Although this is inevitable, remember that change orders cost money and delay completion.

Don’t buy your own materials.

Contractors typically get better prices than consumers.

Also, if that toilet you got “such a good deal” on has defective parts in it, you will be paying the plumber to uninstall it and paying him again to reinstall a replacement once you get it. If he buys it and there is a problem, it’s on his dime to make it right.

Don’t start a project without a contingency fund.

Unforeseen issues can arise or you can get carried away with change orders (“while you’re here” syndrome). You don’t want to run out of funds before the project is complete.

Don’t put lipstick on a pig.

Some people insist on putting high end cabinets into a house with a sinking foundation or a super high-efficiency air conditioner in a house with leaking windows and no insulation. Listen to your contractor. Sometimes it makes more sense to tear a house down than spend a fortune repairing it.

Don’t let kids and pets get in the way.

Remodeling work in inherently dangerous. It’s just not safe to have children or animals around construction. The same holds true for your guests and nosy neighbors too.

Don’t live in the home.

If you are having a whole house remodel done or taking the roof off to add a second floor, don’t try to live in the house. Make other living arrangements that are safe, comfortable, and dry.

Don’t ignore what the house needs.

If the contractor finds that existing walls do not have fire stops in them, spend the money to correct the problem because it’s a matter of life safety. If he suggests repainting the rest of the house’s exterior while adding on a garage, you can easily defer that expense to a later date.

Don’t plan a room addition without thinking about furniture.

Although you may like French doors centered on a wall, it’s too late after the project is done to determine the couch blocks the door. I suggest drawing the rooms to scale on one sheet of paper and your furniture to scale on another sheet of paper. Cut out the furniture and place it on the room to make sure you like the way things lay out and verify there are no conflicts with windows and doors.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more! In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 orvisit their website todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

Do I Have To Show I’m Getting Older?

The short answer is no. Members of the baby-boomer generation now have new concerns in the bathroom, but they would rather not announce it to the world. As more people age in place (right at home), safety is on their minds when they remodel the master and even guest bathroom.

Stylish Grab Bars Add Bathroom Safety

Great bathroom idea: A toilet paper holder that doubles as a grab bar!

While grab bars make navigating the shower or getting up from the toilet safer, the typical stainless steel ones with exposed screws look like they would be more appropriate in a hospital than in a private residence. Fear not! There are manufacturers that make stylish ones with concealed mounting hardware, “funky” shapes, and in chrome, brushed nickel, and polished nickel finishes.

Instead of installing one of those thick, plastic toilet seat risers that scream “ugly”, look for a toilet that is labeled as universal height, or ADA compliant. The toilet, with seat installed, will be 17″ to 19″ off the floor – a comfortable height for most people. I also recommend using a “soft close” seat which slowly closes by itself after giving the seat only a slight nudge toward the closed position.

Roll-Out Shelves Add Additional Safety

Stretching to reach items in the back of a base cabinet can be dangerous. Instead of risking losing your balance, install roll-out shelves. If you have room on top of the counter, consider adding a tower with doors and/or drawers to avoid bending altogether.

Using a rubber mat with suction cups on the back side is great for the shower floor. It is extremely functional, gives terrific traction, makes bathing less stressful, and yet it can be removed when guests are coming over.

Baby boomers have many more years of life ahead of them so they may as well make their bathroom work well for them. The beauty of the above suggestions is that style is not compromised for safety, and your home can still be shared with people of all ages.

If you have specific questions, please call me at 561-795-2551 or email me at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more! In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 orvisit their website todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

BEWARE OF WHAT YOU PURCHASE

The new vanity for your bathroom make look great in the store and the price is too hard to pass up. You think the vanity will look perfect in your home. However, like so many things in life, you get what you pay for.

YOUR PERFECT VANITY MAY END UP COSTING YOU MORE

A past client of mine found out the hard way and it cost her over $700 to correct the problem. She purchased her “prefect vanity” from a furniture / art store. What she didn’t know was that the vanity had a vitrous china bowl (what some of you refer to as the sink) made in Mexico. Others are made in China, Spain and elsewhere.

Vitrous china bowls are glazed and MUST have either a sticker on them stating what American or Canadian safety standard they have passed or have manufacturer’s documentation stating what American or Canadian safety standard they have passed. For tempered glass vessels (bowls that sit on top of the counter like in the picture to the left) there is a Canadian safety standard they must pass. Plumbing inspectors check for this. Without the proof… you will have to purchase a bowl and have it installed in your cabinet.

Don’t fail an inspection needlessly.

If you have specific questions, please call me at 561-795-2551 or email me at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more! In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 orvisit their website todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

Your bathroom is one of the most heavily trafficked places in your home.

Bathrooms need updates and maintenance because the constant use and moisture may contribute to the breakdown of the major components over time. Your family’s changing needs may also require an update including taller or shorter counters, handicapped accessibility or other modifications; or you may want to get a fresh start by revising a layout, remodeling to add storage, or replacing fixtures.

Before you remodel or do a bathroom update there are many things to consider:

If you are considering a bathroom update or adding a new bathroom and have questions, you can contact Leading Edge Homes, Inc. through their website, complete the comment section of this post, or call 561-795-2551.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, and hurricane-resistant screen enclosures. In business since 1991, the most important thing they demolish is your stress and build is your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 orvisit their website todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

According to the 2015 Remodeling Magazine Cost VS Value Report for the entire South Atlantic region of the United States, replacing your front door, adding manufactured stone veneer to your house exterior, and replacing your garage door will give you the highest return on your investment in your home.

A kitchen renovations may help you sell your home quicker.

Although these home improvement investments give you the most return when you sell your home, other interior remodeling projects may be more beneficial. There are two projects that may stand between selling your house quickly and at a higher price, and having the house sit on the market unsold. Those two projects are a kitchen remodel and a master bathroom remodel.

The kitchen is the heart of the home and the master bathroom is especially important to women as a sanctuary. If either, or both, are tired looking, old, and unappealing, you have a problem on your hands. Even though a major kitchen remodel will provide only a 67.4% and a bath remodel will provide only a 72.7% return on investment, they may need to be performed for a relatively prompt and profitable sale. Seek the advice of a professional Realtor.

A Look at the Top 3 Home Improvement Investments

1. Replace Your Front Door

This might seem like a fairly minor home improvement, but, replacing your front door has been shown time and time again to bring an amazing return. A new steel door averaged a 112% return. When looking at cost versus value, a new door is the top of the list.

Why?

Put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer. You pull up to a house you are interested in and you see the landscape, the trees, and the shrubs are not in the best of condition, but they’re fixable. Then you walk up to the front door and it is old looking, worn, and has splintered wood. You are about to literally walk through the door to your future… do you want it to look old and decrepit?

Now, picture a new, steel door with a fresh coat of paint. It looks strong and safe. This puts the buyer in a positive state of mind before they even step foot in your home.

A replacement steel door averages a 112% return on investment – by far the highest return.

2. Manufactured Stone Veneer

This is the first year projects involving manufactured stone veneer have been included in the report. The cost and value estimates are based on a project that calls for installing 300 square feet of manufactured stone veneer on the bottom third of a house.

The appeal of this project is in making a good first impression and giving the house an upscale look. That’s why this project averaged a 93% return on investment.

3. Garage Door Replacement

Just like with the front door, replacement of the garage overhead door with an embossed, steel one offers a good return on investment at an average 91.6%. This is for all the same reasons as the front door but on a larger scale due to its larger impact on curb appeal. This is especially true for a front loading garage.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida state certified general contracting company specializing in room additions, bathroom renovation, kitchen updates, and hurricane-resistant screen enclosures. In business, since 1991, the most important thing they build is your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 orvisit their websitefor more information about how they can help you with your next Palm Beach County home remodeling project.